6 Alternative Movies To Watch This Mother’s Day

Juno (2007)

In many ways, there can be no better film about motherhood than Juno. It may be, broadly speaking, a film about unplanned teenage pregnancy, but it includes subtle and beautiful depictions of motherhood in many forms, embodied by the teen, the adoptive mother, the step-mother and the friend.

Juno MacGuff is a teenager, who finds herself knocked up after spontaneously hooking up with her friend, Paulie Bleeker. Juno takes responsibility for both her situation and her feeling that she is not yet equipped to raise a child – and arranges an adoption. Already, Juno is taking a maternal approach to her baby, by seeking out the best future for it, and finding a child-ready family. Enter the Lorings – Mark and Vanessa – who jump at the chance to adopt Juno’s unborn baby, having tried several times before.

Though Mark ultimately proves himself wary of fatherhood, Vanessa is steadfast, and steps up to continue the adoption process as a single-parent. While it could be argued that Vanessa’s extremely maternal nature is a factor in the breakdown of her marriage – much note being given to her particular ways and expectations of her husband – there is no question that she is the best person to raise Juno’s baby. Her decision to take that step without a partner is a wonderful nod to the non-traditional family unit.

Then, there is Bren, Juno’s step-mother. She did not give birth to Juno, but she has filled the role of care-giver and maternal figure for a number of years. When Juno’s situation becomes clear, Bren steps up to the plate with some tough love and reality checks – all woven through an overarching tapestry of love and acceptance. The pride that she feels as she watches Juno fearlessly navigate these choppy emotional waters, create this new life, and sacrifice her own connection to it for the baby’s benefit is constantly etched on Bren’s face.

Juno’s friend Leah is her contemporary at school and, as such, matches the teen in her immaturity and inexperience. However, she remains by Juno’s side throughout the process of both pregnancy and adoption – talking her through the emotional peaks and troughs, and providing unconditional partnership and love. This relationship, in the film, is essentially an acknowledgement of unconventional forms of nurture. The relationship doesn’t need to be mother-to-child to be impactful in a positive way.